{"id":32638,"date":"2024-11-25T19:33:50","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T19:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mensfitness.co.uk\/?p=32638"},"modified":"2024-11-26T21:51:04","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T21:51:04","slug":"world-rowing-champion-graham-benton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mensfitness.co.uk\/news\/world-rowing-champion-graham-benton\/","title":{"rendered":"Graham Benton: how I became World Rowing Champion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Despite having a heart condition, British Indoor Rowing Champion Graham Benton has defied the odds to win multiple world titles<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>INTERVIEW: Rob Kemp<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC) returns on December 7-8, 2024, as part of the FitFest event at Birmingham\u2019s NEC. With over 2000 competitors from various countries, each vying to be crowned British Rowing Indoor Champion the event is expected to attract upwards of 15,000 attendees and competitors across five major fitness disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides rowing, the event will include powerlifting, the England Weightlifting Championships, obstacle course racing, and the AHX Finals Weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>British indoor rower Graham Benton, 51, went from using a rowing machine in the gym at the end of a weights session to becoming a British, European and World Champion \u2013 winning the BRIC a record 17 times. Benton now competes in the 50-54 age category and remains the man to beat. At last year\u2019s BRIC he left the race floor with yet another record, finishing the Masters 50-54 Open 2,000m in just 6:05.00. Ahead of the upcoming BRIC 2024, Men\u2019s Fitness spoke to him to discover what it takes to become a World Champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Men\u2019s Fitness<\/strong>: Graham, did you really just go from using the rower for a bit of cardio to taking on the world\u2019s best?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Graham Benton<\/strong>: Pretty much! I started indoor rowing back in 2002 with no prior experience, just a love for fitness. I\u2019d get on the rowing machine after a weight session and got quite into it. When I started to look into it more, I discovered this whole indoor rowing community and discovered that I was recording decent scores, only seconds off of record times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over time, I got more involved, began competing at national and international levels, and never looked back. Now, I\u2019m here, training consistently, and keeping competitive even as I manage the challenges that come with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: Can you tell us about your training regimen?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: I train daily, with a strong emphasis on listening to my body, especially as I get older. My routine used to be relentless, but now, recovery is just as crucial. Nutrition-wise, I focus on lean proteins and vegetables but allow myself some indulgences &#8211; a burger here and there, or a drink occasionally. Keeping balance is key to staying motivated and fit over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: What keeps you motivated after so many years in the sport?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: For me, it\u2019s the drive to push my limits. Whether I\u2019m racing or not, I enjoy working towards personal goals. Training has become a constant in my life, and the satisfaction of knowing I\u2019m still competitive is invaluable. That feeling of accomplishment keeps me going. To be a Champion in something is a huge spur to keep doing it, and indoor rowing is structured in a way that no matter what age or ability there\u2019s an opportunity for you to compete and excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: You manage a heart condition while competing. How do you balance this with your training?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: I was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia a few years ago and had to modify my training, especially in the beginning, to keep my heart rate within safe limits. But with medication and guidance, I\u2019ve adjusted. These days, my back actually limits me more, but I\u2019m still committed to pushing forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: Injuries are part of any athlete&#8217;s life. How do you manage setbacks and adapt your goals?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: Injuries are definitely part of the sport. Recently, I hurt my back, which limited my rowing, so I\u2019ve turned to cycling to maintain my fitness. My coach and I have adapted my training around injuries, focusing on consistency. The key is flexibility in both your mindset and approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: Who are some of the athletes or clubs to watch at the BRIC this year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: Expect fierce competition! Notable clubs include MAD Team, Fitness Matters, and Sub6. One competitor I\u2019m watching closely in my event is South African rower Luke Wollenslager\u2014an incredibly tough contender. We\u2019ve had some thrilling races over the years, and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how this year shapes up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MF<\/strong>: Any advice for older athletes or newcomers looking to start indoor rowing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GB<\/strong>: Definitely. Start gradually and listen to your body. Rowing is great because it\u2019s accessible at any age. Consistent, smart training will build a solid base and help avoid burnout. There\u2019s always room to improve, no matter when you start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022 For more information or to register, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britishrowing.org\/events\/events-calendar\/bric\/\">British Rowing Indoor Championships <\/a>registration closes on <strong>November 26<\/strong> for Saturday events, while slots for Super Sprint Sunday will be available until the day of the event, space permitting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Despite having a heart condition, British Indoor Rowing Champion Graham Benton has defied the odds to win multiple world titles INTERVIEW: Rob Kemp The British Rowing Indoor Championships (BRIC) returns on December 7-8, 2024, as part of the FitFest event at Birmingham\u2019s NEC. With over 2000 competitors from various countries, each vying to be crowned [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":263,"featured_media":32639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"amazon_asin_number":"","model":"","featured_image_overlay_img":"","hjpType":"","squirrel_render_by":"","squirrel_id":""},"categories":[450],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.5 (Yoast SEO v23.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Graham Benton: how I became World Rowing Champion | Men&#039;s Fitness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Despite having a heart condition, British Indoor Rowing Champion Graham Benton has defied the odds to win multiple world titles\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, 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